Garage to stage: Teens go from audience to musicians

<p>A new local band calls itself GimCrackery and the musicians are among the first graduates of the Garage to Stage program at The Petaluma Phoenix Center. </p><p>The young musicians, under the tutelage of Toast Machine bassist Gio Benedetti, who is also director of Music Education at the Phoenix, have learned to form a band, book gigs and promote their own shows. </p><p>Heck, they rocked the Phoenix Saturday before last.</p><p>“When the crowd started screaming and cheering and clapping all of my nerves melted away,” said Malcolm MacLeod, 16, lead guitarist.</p><p>The California Virtual Academy junior claims to have attained a state of bliss onstage.</p><p>“Once I noticed how many people were dancing to our original songs I was so happy,” MacLeod said.</p><p>Garage to Stage is a free program offered at The Petaluma Phoenix Center, a one-of-a kind all-ages music hall. Many teens come through the Phoenix doors for evening shows and come back for weekday music and academic tutoring and health programs. </p><p>Garage to Stage can accept 10 students per session. </p><p>“We’re reaching out to kids who don’t already have a band, but want to,” said Benedetti. The program pulls would-be musicians out of the audience and puts them center stage.</p><p>“The main thrust was to get them going and promoting. We want them to be able to produce their own shows,” said Benedetti. </p><p>Kellie Blackstone, a 16-year-old junior at Petaluma High plays guitar and keyboard for GimCrackery.</p><p>“I went to a small show at the Phoenix and everyone was having so much fun and the people in the bands all seemed to know each other,” she said. “From an outside perspective it seemed like the best thing I could become a part of.”</p><p>The teens credit Benedetti with showing them how to own the stage.</p><p>“Gio has been amazing for helping us with this,” said Tyler Cannon-Nelson, 16, a junior at Petaluma High. “Playing on stage will be a moment we remember for the rest of our lives. We have Gio and the Phoenix to thank for that.”</p><p>Some students had to overcome a sense of trepidation. “The entire day of show I was petrified with fear,” said McLeod. “Setting up was the worst.”</p><p>Petaluma’s Phoenix Theatre is more than 100 years old. Once the Hill Opera House, it has been a legitimate theater, a burlesque house, movie theater and now a teen center and performance venue.</p><p>Tom Gaffey manages The Phoenix for the non-profit Phoenix Foundation. </p><p>For many teens performing builds confidence. “You just forget about all your worries,” said Cannon-Nelson. “You can’t help but crack a smile when up on stage.” </p><p>GimCrackery’s bass player is 16-year-old Patrick Kelly Jr., a junior at California Virtual Academy. </p><p>A musician since age 3, he had already connected with his inner rock star.</p><p>“On stage I feel like a god, or some form of idol being presented to my followers,” he said.</p><p>Their songs feature intricate lyrics and lovely melodies.</p><p>“I would say ‘Revenga’ is our best song, or the one the crowd likes best,” said drummer, Zach Portius, 16. He will be a junior at Casa Grande in the fall.</p><p>Portius said things are looking up for GimCrackery. The group will play on the Kiwanis stage at the Sonoma-Marin Fair on June 24. The headliner for that night is singer Josh Gracin.</p><p>GimCrackery’s Web site is www.myspace.com/gimcra. </p><p>“We’re working on new songs,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll get more shows over the summer.”</p><p>The Petaluma Phoenix Center is located at 210 Washington St. Go to www.thephoenixtheater.com or call 762-3565 for information. </p><p>— Rayne Wolfe</p>